Abstract

The Unilateral neglect (ULN) is a common behavioural syndrome in patients following stroke. It is the one of the common disabling condition following unilateral brain damage, particularly of the right hemisphere. Swiss ball is the one of the instrument tool which helps in improving the balance and reducing the symptoms in several neurological conditions, whereas no information is available regarding the use of Swiss ball training in unilateral neglect patient. The main purpose of this study was to identify the effect of swiss ball training in unilateral neglect. Total numbers of participants are 15. Selection criteria for the patients are inclusion criteria age between 32 to 60 years, both males and females, stroke with unilateral neglect were included. Exclusion criteria haemorrhagic stroke, any visual impairment and other psychotic disorders were excluded from the study. The study used an experimental design. The severity of ULN was measured by using the line bisection test (LBT) and star cancellation test (SCT), mobility was assessed by using the functional independence measure (FIM) and balance was assessed by berg balance scale (BBS). Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0. The pre and post intervention outcome measures between the groups were evaluated by independent t-test. The quantitative results of all the outcome measures showed significant improvement of ULN. The result showed that post intervention improved in all the outcome measures (LBT SCT, BBS and FIM). The level of significance was set at P< 0.05. The study concluded that the Swiss ball training is effective in improving the trunk control, balance and decreases the disability in unilateral neglect patients. Future research is needed to compare the effect of swiss ball training with control group.